Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 03/09/09: Bass Boat Safety

Being safety conscious and implementing those safety ideas can go a long way in preventing accidents and injuries when towing or fishing in a bass boat. Simple safety implementation can keep you from getting sued or from ending up in the hospital. Let's look at a few tips that can keep you on the water and not in the courthouse or hospital.

1- When towing your rig always use safety chains. These will prevent the boat from separating if the trailer ball breaks or the lockdown mechanism fails. The guy behind you will greatly appreciate it if the boat comes unbuttoned and it stays attached to your vehicle.

2- Use boat tie downs. The newer ones are strapped to the rear of the boat and will prevent the boat from coming through your back window of the vehicle you are driving if you have to make a sudden stop.

3- Keep your tire pressures in the proper range. This will prevent blow outs and a jack knife condition.

4- Make sure the tongue weight is sufficient for your boat i.e. too small a tongue weight will lead to excessive sway and side to side movement of your trailer. Ask a dealer or research on the net to see what the proper tongue weight is for your rig.

5- Make sure your boat supplies meet the minimum standards for coast guard requirements even if it isn't enforced on your waters. You should have a horn/whistle, flares, life jackets, a throw cushion or ring, a fire extinguisher and a set of boat paddles. A GPS and depth finder are great additions for marking your launch point and the surrounding water depths so you don't run aground.

6- Don't have your life jackets stuffed in your rod locker or dry storage when running full speed, use them!

7- Always wear your kill switch. I recall a few fishermen who were dumped overboard when some swells hit them broadside and they were almost killed by the boat running over them when it decided to go around in circles.

8- When passing/approaching a large slow moving boat always slow down. If you don't you may go sky born due to the large wakes they produce.

9- Don't pass a small moving boat too close. Your wake may actually over turn it!

10- When charging your boat batteries, plus to plus minus to minus is the standard. This also goes for getting a jump start. Mis wiring can lead to fires or explosions!

11- Show respect to other boats on the water and that in itself will go a long ways!

Follow these safety tips so you can do more catching and with less lawsuits and smaller hospital bills.

The Largemouth Herald